Harness for abdominal catheter support band

Abstract

First and second straps are attached to a dialysis catheter support band to support the band and the catheter on the abdomen of a user. The first strap is attached at two opposed ends to the band and is deployable on the front of the user's abdomen, with the second strap being deployed on the user's back and connected to the band and to the first strap. Each of the first and second straps is releasibly attachable to the band and is provided with variably length adjustment. In another embodiment, a catheter support includes a strap having a first end releasibly attached to a dialysis catheter extending from a user's abdomen and a second end attached to an intermediate portion of the strap to form a loop which encircles the neck of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A support for supporting an external catheter on the torso of a user comprising: a strap having first and second opposed ends;   first and second intermediate portions, wherein said first intermediate portion is adjacent to said first end and said second intermediate portion is spaced between said second end and said first intermediate portion;   first means, mounted on the first end of the strap, for releasibly attaching the first end of the strap to an external catheter extending from the abdomen of a user; and   second means, mounted on the second opposed end of the strap, for attaching the second end of the strap to the second intermediate portion of the strap spaced from the first end of the strap to form a loop to encircle the neck of the user and to mount the strap about the neck of a user.   
     
     
       2. The support of claim 1 wherein the first releasibly attaching means comprises: the first end of the strap being folded over into overlaying engagement with the first intermediate portion of the strap; and   fastening means, mounted on the overlying portions of the first end and the strap, for releasibly securing the first end of the strap to the first intermediate portion of the first strap and around an exterior catheter.   
     
     
       3. The support of claim 1 wherein the second attaching means includes releasible attaching means for releasibly attaching the second end of the strap to the second intermediate portion of the strap. 
     
     
       4. The support of claim 3 wherein the releasible attaching means comprises: fastening means, mounted on the second end of the strap and the second intermediate portion of the strap, for releasibly securing the second end of the strap to the second intermediate portion of the strap.   
     
     
       5. The support of claim 4 further comprising: a plurality of spaced apart fastening means spaced from the second end of the strap to adjust the diameter of a loop formed when the second end of the strap is attached to the second intermediate portion of the strap.